Multiple clutch mechanism



April 17, 1951 c. GERST MULTIPLE CLUTCH MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 15, 1947 INVENTOR. [HR/6 55R 5 T 0 arr.

April 17, 1951 c. GERST 2,549,078

MULTIPLE CLUTCH MECHANISM Filed Feb. 15, 1947 I 3 sheetsr-sheet 2 INVENTOR.

CHRIS EERST April 17, 1951 Filed Feb. 15, 1947 c. GERST 2,549,078

MULTIPLE CLUTCH MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 TIE 9 INVEN TOR.

5 E'R-ST 7 lqrr.

Patented Apr. 17, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,549,078 MULTIPLE CLUTCH MECHANISM Chris Gerst, Detroit, Mich., assignor to The Transmission & Gear Company, Dearborn, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application February 15, 1947, Serial No. 728,843

10 Claims. 1

This invention relates in general to friction clutches in which independently rotatable driving and driven members are coupled with each other by a plurality of friction disks brought into frictional cooperation by clamping the disks between backing and clamping plates, and, more particularly, is concerned with improvements in two-way friction clutches of the above type especially suitable for use with two ratio or reversible transmissions such as marine transmissions, mixer transmissions, etc. V

The primaryobject of the present invention is the provision of an improved two-way friction clutch of the positive locking type which includes a backing plate structure with two laterally spaced backing plates and a single shiftably mounted clamping plate arranged to actuate in cooperation with the backing plate structure either of two clutch disk assemblies to permit forward or reversed rotation of the driven shaft of a transmission or quick and effective change of the drive ratio of such driven shaft by shifting of the two-way friction clutch instead of shifting the gears of the transmission.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved two-way friction clutch of the positive locking type which includes a backing plate structure with two laterally spaced backingplates and a clamping plate structure axially shiftably and non-rotatably engaged with the backing plate structure, so that the clamping plate of the clamping plate structure is positioned between the backing plates and permits selective actuation of either of two clutch disk assemblies arranged between the backing plates in symmetrical relation with respect to the clamping plate for rotation of either a shaft by the one clutch disk assembly or a quill surrounding the shaft by the other one clutch disk assembly.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved two-way friction clutch which includes a backing plate structure with two laterally spaced, individually adjustably mounted backing plates and a clamping plate structure with a single clamping plate, which clutch has its backing plate structure axially slidably and nonrotatably interengaged with the clamping plate structure, and which clutch includes on its backingplate structure and clamping plate structure cooperative means permitting shifting of said "clamping plate structure for selective actuation of either of two clutch disk assemblies arranged in the backing plate structure between its adjustably mounted backing plates.

Still another object. of :the invention istheprovision of an improved two-way friction clutch which includes a backing plate structure in which a housing adjustably mounts two oppositely arranged, laterally spaced backing plates and a clamping plate structure in which a cup-shaped housing mounts a single clamping plate, which clutch has the two housings non-rotatably and axially shiftably interengaged with eachother and has the clamping plate arranged-in the housing of the backing plate structure between the backing plates thereof, and which clutch has extended from both of said housings hub portions slidably engaged with each other and provided with cooperating means adapted to effect axial shifting of the housings with respect to each other.

With the above and other incidental objects in view, the invention has .other marked improvements and superiorities which radically distinguish it from presently known structures. These improvements or superior characteristics embodying certain novel features of construction are clearly set forth in the appended claims, and

a preferred embodiment of the invention is heretaken on line -3.3 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 4 through 57 show the backing plateistruc ture and the clamping plate structure of the .twoway clutch in partly disassembled condition, thus Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through the cover member of the backing plate structure;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view through the body member of the backing plate structure;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional .view through the clamping plate of .the clamping plate structure, and

Fig. 7a longitudinal sectional view through the clamping plate supporting member of the clamping plate structure.

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional viewthroughthe two.-

way clutch structure shown in Fig.1,4thesectioi1 being taken on line 8-.--8 of said figure; and

Fig. 9 is another cross sectional .view through :with the slots 35.

the two-way clutch structure shown in Fig, 1, the a section being taken on line 9-9 of said figure.

Referring now more particularly to the transmission and clutch structure shown in the drawings, reference numeral 2 denotes a transmission which embodies a main housing 3 provided at its rear end with a bell housing 4 and closed at its front end by a cover member 5. Housing 3 mounts an input shaft 5 coupled by means of gearing 9 and a two-way clutch mechanism 9 with an output shaft H. V mechanism, which is supported on the splined front portion [2 of input; shaft 6, embodies a backing plate structure i l, with two laterally spaced backing plates and a clamping plate structure l5 with a'single clamping plate. Structures l4 and I5 are axially slidably and non-rotatably interengaged with each other to permit selective coupling of input shaft 6 with output shaft il byeither of two individual clutch disk assemblies I6 and I1 arranged within backing plate structure [4 at opposite sides of the clamping plate, as will be later described. 7

The backing plate structure includes a cupshaped body l9 having extended from its rear wall 20 an internally splined hub 2i non-rotatably slidably engaged with the splined front portion 12 of input shaft 5. Body i9 carries at its one end a ring-shaped, flanged cover member 22 extended into the body andnon-rotatably engaged therewith and which is held in position by a locking ring 23 seated in a groove 24 of said body., The clamping plate structure 15 includes a cup-shaped body 25 dimensioned to permit free extension of body l9 thereinto. Body 25, which.

:has extended from its rear wall 21 a slotted hub member 26 slidably engagedwith the hub 2| of backing plate structure [4, mounts non-rotatably secured tobody 25 a ring-shaped plate 28 with radial driving lugs 29. These lugs extend into slots 30 in the circumferential wall 3i of body 25 and are held in position by a locking ring 32 seated in a groove 33 of body 25. The backing plate structure has its body .19 partly extended into the body 25 of the clampingplate structure so that the clamping plate 28 is generally positioned in body I9 and driving lugs 29 are extended through slots 35 in the circumferential wall 36 of body l9 to permit engagement of these lugs This relationship of structures [4 and 15 provides a clutch structure with a single clamping plate and two laterally spaced backing plates. Shifting of the clamping plate This two-wayv clutch- Clutch disk assembly [6 consists of friction driven disks 52 non-rotatably and axially shiftably secured to the enlarged, splined end portion 53 of driven sleeve member 54 which is axially aligned with input shaft 6 and mounted in bearings 55, 56, and friction driving disks 5'! nonrotatably and axially shiftably secured to the internally toothed circumferential wall 35 of body I9. Clutch disk assembly ll consists of friction driven disks 58 non-rotatably andaxially shiftably secured to the enlarged, splined end portion 59 of a second driven sleeve member 59 which is axially'aligned with sleeve member 54 and input shaft 6, and mounted in bearings 62, 62 and friction driving disks 63 nonrotatably and axirear end a 65 secured to'output shaft -ll journalled in ball bearings 61, 68 in housing 3, and sleeve member 54, the reverse drive sleeve, mountswon its rear end a pinion 69 which is in constant mesh with 7 an idler gear 19 meshing a gear H secured'to structure [5 with respect to backing plate structure I4 is effected by a plurality ofdual clutch levers 31 which are pivoted on pins 38 bridging the slots 39 in slotted hub member 25. These dual clutch levers each embody symmetrically, ar-

ranged, oppositely extended arms 40 and 4t piv- .otally supporting rollers 42 and 43. The rollers 42 cooperate'with studs 44 attached to the rear :wall 20 of body l9 and extended intoslots 39, and

the rollers 43 cooperate with the inclined wall 45 of a collar member 46 sleeved upon the end portion of hub 2| and secured thereto by a locking ring 41 seated in a groove 48 in hub 2 I. Actuation of levers 31 causes shifting of the clamping plate shifting fork of common .constructiorr (not shown) structure l5 and such actuation is effected by the inner race member 49 of a ball bearing 51 which output shaft H; This arrangement permits simple reversing of rotation of output shaft II by operation of the two-way clutch structure without engagement or disengagement of gears.

The backing plate structure [4 is provided with removable and axially shiftable backing plates l2, 13 which directly engage the two clutch disk assemblies [6' and 11. These backing plates are non-rotatably and axially slidably connected to body i9 and cover member '22, respectively, and, for such purpose, include peripheral teeth which engage the internally toothed circumferential Wall 35 of body l9 and the internally toothed flange 64 of cover member 22, respectively. This mounting of the backing plates provides ,a medium for adjusting the clutch structure when the friction disks of the clutch disk assemblies [6 and I! wear and it becomes necessary to readjust the initial position of the backing plates owing to the fixed range of movement oflever arms 40 and'4i. To permit adjustment of the backing plates 12 and (3, these plates are backed up by backing rings 14, 15 which are threadedly connected with body i9 and cover member 22, respectively. Backing plate 12 is adjusted by rotation of backin ring 14 which is held in adjusted position by a spring-pressed plunger 16 mounted in the rear wall 21 of cup-shaped body 25 and extended through a bore 11 in wall 20 of body l9 into one of a pluralityof circumferentially disposed, holes 78 in backing'ring l4. Backing plate 13 is adjusted by rotation of backing ring I5 which is held in adjusted position by a spring-pressed plunger 19 mounted in backing ring 15and extended into'one of a plurality of circumferentially disposed holes 80 in the nonrotatable and axially shiftable-backingplate 13.

The thus described clutch structure, which includes a sheet metal cover member 8| isconstructed and designed to be'locatedon'the outside of a transmission or supporting housing so as to be readily and easily accessible for adjustment and repair. r

In describing the operation of the improved clutch structure it will be assumed that, as shown in Fig; 1, the clamping plate structure is in neutral position and that input'shaft 6 and hence all elements of the clutch structure 'exceptfriction driven disks 52fand 58,- are rotating. If it is desired todirectly drive output shaft .l l, ball bearing 5| is shifted toward the right to cause 4.61am e fe taxi mo ,ing platestructure until-;,the disks of clutch disk assembly I are locked with; each other so that sleeve 60 byits pinion 65 rotates gear ,66, secured tacaegoee a movement of =levers 31 so that rollers 43 on levenarms 4| engage the; lined wall 45 ,of co1- ent of the clampto output shaft l I. A reverse drive is transmitted gtooutput-shaft ll whenballbearing 5| ismoved toward the left to cause awmovement oflevers plate structure [4 and effect axial movement of the clamping structure until the disks of clutch .disk assembly I6 are locked with each other and sleeve 54 by its pinion 69 and idler gear 10 rotates gear H also secured to output shaft II.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In clutch mechanism, a drive member, a pair of clutches, a backing plate structure rigidly secured to said drive member and including a housing adjustably mounting therein backing plates arranged in laterally spaced relation with respect to each other, a shiftab-le clamping plate structure including a housing mounting at its one end a clamping plate, said two housings being non-rotatably and axially shiftably interengaged with each other by the clamping plate of said clamping plate structure and partly extended into each other to position the clamping plate between said backing plates, tiltable lever means directly pivotally mounted on the housing of said clamping plate structure, and means mounted on the housing of said backing plate structure opposite said tiltable lever means for cooperation with said lever means in shifting the clamping plate structure in opposite directions for selective actuation of either one of said clutches.

2. A clutch mechanism such as described in claim 1, wherein the backing plates of said backing plate structure are non-rotatably and axially shiftably mounted in its housing and wherein there are provided backing rings threadedly engaged with said housing to back up said backing plates and adjust their position with respect to each other.

3. A clutch mechanism such as described in claim 1, wherein the housing of said backing plate structure is smaller in diameter than the housing of said clamping plate structure and partly extended thereinto, wherein both housings include intersleeved hub portions, wherein said tiltable lever means is pivotally mounted on the hub portion of the clamping plate structure, and wherein the hub portion of the clamping plate structure is sleeved upon the hub portion of the backing plate structure.

4. A clutch mechanism such as described in claim 1, wherein the said housings of said backing plate and clamping plate structures include hub portions and the hub portion of the clamping plate structure is sleeved on the hub portion of the backing plate structure, and wherein the hub portion of said clamping plate structure is slotted and has said tiltable lever means extended into its slotted portion.

5. A clutch mechanism such as described in claim 1, wherein the backing plates of said backing plate structure are non-rotatably and axially shiftably mounted in its housing, wherein there are provided backing rings threadedly engaged with said backing plate structure housing to back up said backing plates and adjust their -position with respect1to,.'each other, and-wherein ;-means are provided 2 to :lock said backing rings inlltheir adjustedpositions.

ii. A clutchmechan-ism .such as described :in claim 1, wherein the backing platesof said backingplate structure are non-rotatablyand axially shiftably mounted in itsshousing, wherein there are .:provided backing rings threadedly engaged with said backing plate structure housing to back up said backing plates and adjust their enq iti n wi h cr p t eac o her wh r means are provided to lock said backing rings in their adjusted positions, and wherein one of said means is mounted in one of the backing rings and the other one of said means is mounted in the housing of said clamping plate structure.

7. A clutch mechanism such as described in claim 1, wherein the housing of said backing plate structure is smaller in diameter than the housing of said clamping plate structure and partly ex tended thereinto, wherein both housings include hub portions and the hub portion of the clamping plate structure is sleeved on the hub portion of the backing plate structure, wherein the hub portion of said clamping plate structure is slotted and has said tiltable lever means extended in its slotted portion, and wherein the housing and the hub portion of said backing plate structure include means cooperating with said tiltable lever means in shifting the clamping plate structure in opposite directions to engaging positions of its clamping plate with either one of said clutches for actuating same.

8. In clutch mechanism a drive member, a pair of clutches, a backing plate structure rigidly secured to said drive member and including :a housing adjustably mounting therein laterally spaced backing plates for said pair of clutches, a shiftable clamping plate structure common to both clutches including a housing mounting a clamping plate arranged between the backing plates of said backing plate structure, dual lever means directly pivotally mounted on one end of the housing of the clamping plate structure, and laterally spaced means mounted on one end of the housing of said backing plate structure opposite said dual lever means for cooperating therewith in shifting the clamping plate structure in opposite directions for selective actuation of either one of said pair of clutches.

9. In clutch mechanism a drive member, a pair of clutches, a backing plate structure rigidly secured to said drive member and including a housing adjustably mounting therein laterally spaced backing plates for said pair of clutches, a shiftable clamping plate structure common to both clutches axially shiftably and non-rotatably engaged with the housing of said backing plate structure and extended into said housing between the backing plates therein, dual lever means directly pivotally mounted on the clamping plate structure, and spaced means mounted on the housing of said backing plate member opposite said dual lever means for cooperation therewith in shifting the clamping plate structure in opposite directions for selective actuation of either one of said pair of clutches.

10. In clutch mechanism, a drive member and a pair of clutches including jointly a backing plate structure rigidly secured to said drive member and provided with laterally spaced backing plates, a clamping plate structure with a housing mounting a. clamping plate and shiftable in opposite directions to engage either clutch, dual lever means directly pivotally mounted on one end 01 laterally spaced means mounted on said backing plate structure opposite said dual lever means for cooperation therewith in shifting the clamping plate structure inopposite directions to engaging positions for selective actuation of either one of said pair of clutches.

" CHRIS GERST.

REFERENCES CITED file of this patent:

8 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Railton et a1. Nov. 16, 1937 Dunkelow Aug. 2, 1938 Burtnett Nov. 15, 1938 Morris Aug. 8, 1939 Adamson et a1. Jan. 28, 1941 Miller Apr. 6, 1943 Barrow Jan. 8,-1946 Miller Sept. 10, 1946 Berndtson Feb. 22, 1949 

